Hi everyone. I will be going to UC Berkeley as a freshman this Fall, and since I'm fresh out of (err, okay six months out of...) the admissions process, I thought I would write some advice. It could also be that my dog woke me up at 5 am and the rest of the town is sleeping.

ANYWAYS...let's proceed.

Most of this advice is geared toward those applying towards the higher-end "crapshoot" colleges (i.e. CMU, UCB, etc., although I have no experience applying to an Ivy) but I think it's a good reader for making the most out of your high school experience.

#During High School

• Have a focused passion. This is SO important. It doesn't matter at all if you're involved in 20 extracurriculars. It comes down to how passionate you are about these activities. You have to give your 110% in these commitments, and they shouldn't just be there solely for resume padding. How have they shaped you? Why do you participate in it? How do your activities link together - this is especially important if you are applying to a selective major. Robotics was my saving grace while writing essays because I was, and still am, absolutely crazy about it.

• Ask around on how to take harder classes. My school had some not-well-known paths you could take, like finishing Geometry via ESchool in 8th grade, so you could jump to Calculus BC by junior year. You can also look into dual enrollment at a local community college. Just make sure you know your options. I wish I took the two-year Cisco networking class offered.

• Test scores matter. Kind of. Once you cross a certain threshold on the SAT/ACT (I would say it's around 2200/33..ish) it becomes a gray area on whether your score makes or breaks the admission decision.

• A side note about AP/IB scores: If you are planning to go to a state school (who usually accept more AP scores), OH BOY ARE YOUR SCORES IMPORTANT. I am so happy I got to AP out of many classes.

• Ask early for rec letters. You have to remember teachers will be writing letters for others too. Take initiative and ask well before the deadline! The end of your junior year is a good time to start the process. Also, even if you don't need a letter for college, they will be useful in scholarship applications.

Actually Applying to College

It's the big day! Here's a confession: I, like many seniors, rushed to write my essays at the last minute.

• Be yourself. As cliche as it sounds, you need to be genuine in your essays. Colleges don't have the resources to cross reference every single thing you write, but it is easier (and sounds better) when you don't falsify your experiences. Plus, if they found out, yikes.

• Read those essays over and over again. I hate going through some of my app essays and finding typos. I cringe every time. r/proofreading is a great way to get a fresh pair of eyes to look at your essay. Have a few people you know look over your essay, but don't let them give a huge facelift to the content, or else it won't sound like you anymore.

• Keep track of application fees. App fees can burn an enormous hole in your wallet. Make sure you actually want to go to the college you're applying to! Some colleges spam your email with a free application, but you still have to spend money on score reports and transcripts. It adds up :(

Getting the Decisions

• It's okay to fail. If you do get a rejection letter, don't take it as something personal. There isn't anything inherently wrong with you. Don't fall into a slump because of it! Keep those wheels turning. The worst thing to do is lose motivation at a safety/match college because you didn't get into your dream school.

• DO NOT SUCCUMB TO SENIORITIS. Your grades still matter since you have to send a final transcript. There are certain conditions of admission you must meet to actually be enrolled in the college after SIR'ing. You can take the summer to relax or pick up some work experience. It's a great time to find a job or internship!

Money

• Apply for financial aid! (if you need it, of course) The FAFSA opens on January 1. Grab your parent/guardian and fill it out! And always check out what your accepted schools offers you. It could save you lots of $$$.

• Be realistic with college costs. It's not worth going to a 50k/yr school if you cannot afford it and the degree doesn't pay well enough to pay back your student loans. Remember, unsubsidized loans collect interest right after they are dispersed so you will be paying much more than just the principal amount.

• Scholarships. A lot of the scholarships listed on large databases are very competitive. Go to your college counselor for more local applications that have a smaller applicant pool. It's a great way to get extra money. (Apply apply apply!)